level groups “must be able to evolve over the course of the year”, affirms the Minister of National Education, who refuses “social sorting”

Level groups in French and mathematics will be set up at the start of the next school year, in 6th and 5th grade. Nicole Belloubet hopes that these groups “can be mixed” during the year, she said on Friday.

Level groups in French and mathematics in middle school “must be able to evolve over the course of the year”says Nicole Belloubet, guest on franceinfo Friday March 15. “We refuse social sorting, I refuse social sorting”, underlines the Minister of National Education, hence her desire for these groups not to be fixed. They will be implemented at the start of the next school year in 6th and 5th grade.

“To evolve, it is necessary, at times, that they [les élèves] meet as a whole class. This gives flexibility to each establishment, on the ground. This is what will happen and it seems to me that it is in line with what the Prime Minister wanted.”, she adds. The level groups will be “Rule” in these subjects and the whole class “the exception”said Gabriel Attal to AFP.

Carry out a “mixing” of groups

“We want these groups to be mixed because we do not want a student who, for example, is in the weakest group to necessarily stay there until the end of the year”explains Nicole Belloubet. “So that the groups are mixed, we say that during the year, the groups can come back as a whole class and that is what will encourage this mixing”she adds.

“Each head of establishment will implement it [ce ‘brassage’] depending on the reality of its establishment”, specifies the minister. With the Prime Minister, “we provide a framework. This framework is clear and it will be in the texts which will appear tomorrow [samedi]“. The establishment of these level groups was announced by Gabriel Attal, who preceded it on rue de Grenelle.

Nicole Belloubet also denies being under the “guardianship” from the head of government, who reaffirmed that the groups set up at the start of the school year will be well “level”while she made her difference heard by speaking instead of “need groups”. “I am certain that the Prime Minister is not in this relationship of punishment. On the contrary, I believe that he is supportive”assures the minister.